Independent-ballot-voting mechanism.



L. R. WINSLOW,

INDEPENDENT BALLOT VOTING MECHANISM. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 13, 1907.

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L. R. WINSLOW.

INDEPENDENT BALLOT VOTING MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1907.

965,352. Patented July 26, 1910.

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INDEPENDENT BALLOT VOTING MECHANISM.

Patented July 26, 1910.

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LENNA R.

NINSLOW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INDEPENDENT-BALLOT-VOTING MECHANISM.

Application filed April 13,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LENNA R. lVrNsLow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Independent Ballot Voting Mechanism, (Case H8,) of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to voting machines, and particularly to independent voting mechanism by means of which it is possible to cast independent ballots or ballots for non-nominated candidates when, for instance, with reference to the election of Presidential electors it is desired to substitute non-nominated candidates for all or for some of the candidates proposed by any given party.

In the construct-ion of voting machines it is sometimes found expedient to provide means for casting what may be termed a general vote for all the Presidential electors nominated by a given party by one opera tion, or by the operation of a single key instead of voting independently for each elector nominated by a given party, this plan being adopted in some instances in order to save space in the machine, and under these circumstances it becomes desirable to provide means whereby an independent ballot may be cast when it is the desire of the voter to drop the names of some of the electors chosen by his party, or to substitute other names for some of those electors who have been nominated on his party ticket.

It is the object of the present invention to provide for such a selective voting without unduly complicating the voting machine.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the drawings-Figure l is a face view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail front view of the independent elector voting mechanism. Fig. 4c is a Vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the means for controlling the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1910.

1907. Serial No. 368,093.

independent elector voting mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detailview of the cradle.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the voting keys 50 in the uppermost horizontal series constitute the operating elements of the means for voting for Presidential electors as denominated on Fig. l of the drawings, and at the left of this series of keys is arranged a device generally designated by the numeral 51 and controlled by the key 52 for casting independent ballots for elector voters (it being understood, of course, that whereas the casting of votes for Presidential electors have been chosen as an example of the usefulness of the mechanism forming the subject-matter of this invention, the same device may be used in casting independent ballots for any other class of nominees such as aldermen, magistrates, etc).

The independent voting mechanism consists essentially of a bracket 53 with which communicates a guide or hopper 54: in which is arranged a series of ballot holders 55 each designed to hold a ballot of paper or like material, said holder consisting of a short length of tubing of any desired diameter, and the holders being adapted (under the control of mechanism hereinafter described) to be dropped one at a time into a receiver or receptacle 56 located beneath the bracket 53. Located in the bracket and obstructing the passage of the ballot holders from the guide through said bracket is a reversible delivering mechanism 57 consist ing, in the construction illustrated, of an approximately semi-tubular rocker or cradle, having its spindle 5S suitably mounted in bearings on the casing and provided with a crank arm or disk 59 which is connected by a link 60 with a pin 61 on the key 52.

Preferably provision is made for lost motion between the key and the link by providing the latter with a slot 62. The operation of drawing the key 52 outward to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5 serves to reverse the rocker 57 and thus deposit the contained ballot holder in the receptacle 56 while preventing the column of ballot holders from escaping from the guide. When the key 52 is replaced by any suitable replacing mechanism which may be provided for that purpose and which in the construction illustrated, includes a crank 63 and replacing bar 64 operating in connection with a lateral projection 65 on the key 52, the rocker is returned to its normal position to receive the next ballot holder preparatory to a subsequent operation by a succeeding voter. The construction of the replacing mechanism forms no part of the present invention, and, therefore, is illustrated only diagrammatically, as also is suitable interlocking mechanism indicated at 66 in Fig. 2, to provide for preventing the operation of the independent controlling key 52 after one of the keys 5O devoted to Presidential electors has been operated, and also to prevent either of the keys 50 from being operated while the key 52 is in its advanced or withdrawn position.

In connection with the above described mechanism and as a means of preventing improper or fraudulent operation of this part of the mechanism there is mounted on the key 52 a locking pawl 67 having a projection or shoulder 68 for engagement by the bar 64: of the replacing mechanism, and adapted in one position of the pawl to be disposed in the path of the forward movement of this bar. Also in the path of movement in opposite directions of a tail 69 of the pawl 67 are arranged stops 70 and 71, on which the former may consist of a rod, as shown, while the latter consists of a fixed portion of the frame or casing, said stops being so positioned with reference to the pawl or other operating parts of the device that when the key 52 is drawn forward from the full line to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 5, the tail of the pawl will strike the stop 71 and thus throw the pawl to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 5, with its projection or shoulder 68 in the path of the replacing or operating bar 6%, and whereby when the key is returned from its dotted to its full line position indicated in Fig. 5 by the rearward movement of the bar 64: acting against the projection 65 the tail of the pawl 67 will come in contact with the stop 7 O and thus return the pawl to the full line position indicated in Fig. 5 out of the path of the bar 64. Therefore, when the voter draws the key 50 for the purpose of casting an independent ballot and thus delivers a ballot holder from the guide the key is automatically locked against replacement because the shoulder 68 of the pawl is in engagement with the bar 64: and the latter, by reason of mechanism not forming a part of this invention but designed to move said bar rearwardly only when the voter leaves the booth, is immovable by the voter so long as he remains within the booth or in position to operate the voting mechanism. The rearward movement of the bar 64: replaces the key, disengages the pawl 67 and returns the ballot delivering mechanism to its normal position.

Having thus described the invention, what- I claim is- 1. In a voting machine having nominated and independent voting keys arranged in single candidate series, a replacing element for the keys, said element serving to restore the keys to initial position after each operation, a pawl carried by the independent key and movable into engagement with said replacing element as the key completes its outward stroke thereby locking the key from return movement, a ballot holder guide, a delivery rocker arranged at the lower portion of said guide for receiving and discharging the successively lowermost ballot holders, and means operatively connecting said rocker to the independent key whereby said rocker is locked in discharging position at the completion of the outward movement of the key.

2. In a voting machine having nominated and independent voting keys arranged in single candidate series, a replacing element for said keys, a pawl carried by the independent key, a pair of stops arranged to be engaged by said pawl to shift the latter into and from engagement with the replacing element at the limits of the movement of the key, a ballot holder guide, a discharge mechanism for delivering the successively lowermost ballot holders from the guide, a shaft extending from the rocker, a crank carried by said shaft, and a link forming a connection between the crank and the independent key.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LENNA It. WVINSLOIV.

Witnesses 

